Lara says Windies have recovered from Indian battering

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Mar 13 (Reuters) West Indies skipper Brian Lara said his team had recovered from the shattering pre-tournament defeat to India before today's World Cup opener against Pakistan in Group D.

India beat West Indies by nine wickets in their final warm-up game on Friday at Trelawny, Jamaica, after West Indies were bowled out for 85 when batting first.

Lara said the loss may even have done them a favour although the defeat could have permanently dented the team's confidence for the showpiece event.

''It definitely gave us a jolt and it was something we needed maybe before such a big tournament,'' Lara told reporters yesterday.

'NOT CRICKET' ''Of course you don't like to have such a farce on a cricket pitch because we were 52-2 and 62-8 -- that's not cricket.

''But if it had to happen it's best it happened before the tournament starts.

''The guys have resurrected their confidence and we know it's going to be a big crowd and a big occasion for all of us West Indians.

''We just have to put that little aberration that we had a few days ago to the past and concentrate on the game.'' Lara will be trying to defeat a Pakistan team guided by Bob Woolmer, his former coach at English county team Warwickshire.

Woolmer dismissed all the pre-match hype of whether West Indies were favourites because they were the home side or Pakistan because they won against the West Indians in December.

''Both teams have a 50-50 chance at the beginning of the game,'' Woolmer said simply.

''Historically in all World Cups, the home teams have not done so well. But there is always a chance for that to change.

''I don't look at cricket like that. We start 50-50 and you have to outplay them on the day.'' Both sides will be picking from fully fit squads, though Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi is unavailable because he is half-way through a four-match ICC ban after an altercation with a spectator.

Ireland and Zimbabwe complete Group D.

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